And now back to paper writing....
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Infinity Dress
I've been wanting to make myself an infinity dress for a while, and after seeing one online that was a beautiful shade of coral I just couldn't stand it anymore. The dress was out of my budget, so I looked around for some fabric that was a similar color. I found some, and saved myself quite a chunk of change. It's been sitting around for a while now, waiting to be made, and yesterday after suffering yet another massive mental block (I just can't manage to get started on any of these four research papers), I decided to take a brief break for just long enough to make a dress. Not that I don't find analyzing textbook content for books designed to be used for classes of heritage speakers of spanish interesting, or the economic state of Brazil and it's various renewable energy sources for that matter, but I just can't seem to figure out where to start on any of these things. The weather has been absolutely lovely the last few days as well, which doesn't make sitting in front of the computer any more of an appealing prospect. My mental stresses have yielded a very pretty and extremely comfortable new dress though. I will be wearing this a great deal this summer, and still have enough fabric left to make another top or so. Without further ado, here is my new coral infinity dress (with my most recent tie variation. I'm particularly fond of this one I think).
And now back to paper writing....
And now back to paper writing....
Sunday, February 19, 2012
1935 Florals: Progress
It was a long time ago that I decided my next project (before the cold weather was gone) was going to be a long sleeved dress in that floral rayon faille I've had forever. Last night I was so burnt out on homework and grading that I decided at midnight it would be a good idea to go ahead and at least cut it out. I got a bit further than that. The seams in the skirt are all sewn. I just need to finish the button plackets in the center front and the two kick pleats in the back seams. I also found the perfect fabric in our stash of scraps to use to pipe the shoulder yoke seams. It's a bit of gold silk left from some bridesmaids dresses I made a couple of years ago for a friend.
The fabric had a single edge border, which I ran down the right center front of the bodice and skirt. The gold silk is a perfect complement, and I was excited not to have to buy something to use. I knew there had to be something, somewhere in the house that would work. I just need to buy some buttons. For a pattern with no instructions, it's really going together really well. I can't wait to get it all finished!
The fabric had a single edge border, which I ran down the right center front of the bodice and skirt. The gold silk is a perfect complement, and I was excited not to have to buy something to use. I knew there had to be something, somewhere in the house that would work. I just need to buy some buttons. For a pattern with no instructions, it's really going together really well. I can't wait to get it all finished!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Next up on the docket : 1935 Floral print dress
I just finished the scarf I have been working on for my fella this evening, which means not only that I can cross one more thing off my list, but he will also have another scarf to wear in the kitchen at work now, since the back of the restaurant is absolutely freezing.
I felt bad for him today, all bundled up with a hat and scarf under his chef's coat. This also means I can move onto other things though (and gives me one less excuse to procrastinate on other work as well). I still have that set of short stays to finish, but I have all three layers cut out at least. I plan on starting the assembly process tomorrow. That's my goal at least. I'm getting ready to make out a to-do list for the rest of my long weekend, and that is one of the first things going on it. I always work much better with lists, and haven't made myself one yet this semester (although granted school has only been in session for a week). Once I get that out of the way, though, and before school gets too, too busy (which I fear will happen more quickly than I'd like) I have one more project in the lineup for the cold weather.
I just received a pattern in the mail that I won as part of a giveaway hosted by Marie over at A Sewing Odyssey. I somehow missed the fact that I won the giveaway back in September, but she graciously held onto the prize for me, for which I am very grateful. The pattern is a 1935 McCall's dress pattern sans instruction sheet. The instructions for patterns of this age are generally minimal anyway, so I am taking it on without apprehension. What I really love about this pattern, however, is that it is not only printed, but it is trilingual! I haven't come across many (if any) printed patterns of this date, but much less one printed in English, Spanish, and French. I was very excited. I was looking at the pattern and suddenly had a stroke of genius. I have about three yards of a rayon faille that I hadn't actually assigned a pattern to, and that I thought would be lovely in the long-sleeved version of the dress. Then I thought about the seaming on the shoulders. Afraid that it would get lost in the print, I suddenly realized that problem could be solves, and rather smartly I might add, by the addition of piping. I'm thinking something to match the deep gold in the flowers. We'll see what I can find.
You can see the colors in the print a bit better in this photo. This is one of the few pieces of fabric I have allowed myself to buy in the last year or so that I didn't have a very specific purpose for. I new I wanted a 1930s or 1940s dress, but I hadn't selected a pattern. I think this is what it was waiting for. I can't wait to get to work on it. I'll need a relaxing sewing break soon I'm sure, but for now it's back to reading for my Pedagogical Linguistics class.
I felt bad for him today, all bundled up with a hat and scarf under his chef's coat. This also means I can move onto other things though (and gives me one less excuse to procrastinate on other work as well). I still have that set of short stays to finish, but I have all three layers cut out at least. I plan on starting the assembly process tomorrow. That's my goal at least. I'm getting ready to make out a to-do list for the rest of my long weekend, and that is one of the first things going on it. I always work much better with lists, and haven't made myself one yet this semester (although granted school has only been in session for a week). Once I get that out of the way, though, and before school gets too, too busy (which I fear will happen more quickly than I'd like) I have one more project in the lineup for the cold weather.
I just received a pattern in the mail that I won as part of a giveaway hosted by Marie over at A Sewing Odyssey. I somehow missed the fact that I won the giveaway back in September, but she graciously held onto the prize for me, for which I am very grateful. The pattern is a 1935 McCall's dress pattern sans instruction sheet. The instructions for patterns of this age are generally minimal anyway, so I am taking it on without apprehension. What I really love about this pattern, however, is that it is not only printed, but it is trilingual! I haven't come across many (if any) printed patterns of this date, but much less one printed in English, Spanish, and French. I was very excited. I was looking at the pattern and suddenly had a stroke of genius. I have about three yards of a rayon faille that I hadn't actually assigned a pattern to, and that I thought would be lovely in the long-sleeved version of the dress. Then I thought about the seaming on the shoulders. Afraid that it would get lost in the print, I suddenly realized that problem could be solves, and rather smartly I might add, by the addition of piping. I'm thinking something to match the deep gold in the flowers. We'll see what I can find.
I've got a black belt that I wear with everything that should do the trick for this dress as well, but if not, I can make one that coordinates with the colors in the print. I'll have to see what I think whenever I get it all put together. Piping to match the bow at the neck, with big, shiny black buttons on the bodice and skirt are what I have in mind for the rest of the trim. I don't really have any winter dresses, and I've really been wanting to remedy that issue. I think I've finally found my first really good candidate.
You can see the colors in the print a bit better in this photo. This is one of the few pieces of fabric I have allowed myself to buy in the last year or so that I didn't have a very specific purpose for. I new I wanted a 1930s or 1940s dress, but I hadn't selected a pattern. I think this is what it was waiting for. I can't wait to get to work on it. I'll need a relaxing sewing break soon I'm sure, but for now it's back to reading for my Pedagogical Linguistics class.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
A Year in Stitches
Since so many other people seem to be doing these recaps of their sewing projects from the past year, and since I have not been nearly as productive over the break as I had intended, I thought I might as well do one as well (also in an effort to remind myself that I have still been productive, despite the toll that grad school has taken on my sewing). So without further ado, here is a recap of my 2011 sewing...
January
February
August
And I also got half way through a scarf for the boy. Well, there it is; everything I've made in the last twelve months. Not too shabby really, considering that I've been so busy with school. I didn't realize just how many projects I got finished at the end of the summer. Hope everyone had a wonderful New Year! School just started back yesterday, so I won't have much time for sewing most likely over the next few months, but once I graduate at the beginning of May I hope to work through several more projects on my list.
***An amendment***
I realized later that the green dress I made for my cousin, was actually an October project, as I finished it over fall break, and I also made a tunic-dress from a pattern my little brother's girlfriend drafted in November. I unfortunately do not have a picture of that, but I'll make sure and take one soon. It's very comfortable, and I think I may make myself another one this spring. So, I actually didn't take a complete sewing break at all last year. I made at least one garment each month.
January
 |
| A 1950s vest and circle skirt in windowpane plaid (not the best picture of me, but oh well). |
 |
| A 1930s silk blouse. |
 |
| A plaid wool skirt from a 1946 pattern. |
 |
| I started an 1870s corset, but it has been put on the back burner for now. |
 |
| A 1950s reproduction top in an 1970s reproduction print. |
March
 |
| A 1960s blouse in a vintage feedsack cotton. |
 |
| 1930s natural color linen/rayon lounge pants. |
 |
| An early 1930s blouse in a vintage feedsack cotton. |
 |
| A 1960s repro sundress with matching belt (not shown). |
 |
| A 1940s seersucker playsuit. |
April
 |
| Sky blue knit DKNY dress. |
May
 |
| Purple knit DKNY dress. |
June
 |
| Black 1930s lounge pants. |
 |
| Polka-dot knit DKNY dress. |
 |
| Knit wrap top. |
 |
| Knit tank top. |
 |
| Convertible sarong dress. |
 |
| Tropical challis maxi dress. |
July
 |
| Navy wool sailor shorts. |
 |
| 1951 tomato print blouse. |
 |
| 1950s repro blouse with matching belt. |
 |
| 1940s denim shorts. |
 |
| Denim cigarette pants. |
 |
| 1950s flocked sundress with sash belt. |
 |
| 1950s polka-dot halter dress with bow belt. |
 |
| 1930s inspired challis dress. |
 |
| 1950s repro dress. |
 |
| 1950s suit, still on the back burner. |
 |
| Sari blouse for my cousin's wedding. |
 |
| Aqua knit DKNY dress for my cousin. |
 |
| Red 1930s lounge pants. |
 |
| Black double-knit tube dress (pardon the dusty mirror). |
September
 |
| Blue knit tube dress with bloused top. |
 |
| Version of tropical maxi dress for my cousin. |
 |
| 1930s inspired challis dress. |
I also made another of the green 1930s inspired challis for my cousin, but didn't take photos, as it looks just the same.
I took quite a break from September to December, since school and relationships didn't allow for much sewing/crafting time. I did however finish a sweater over the break...
December
 |
| 1930s lace sweater. |
***An amendment***
I realized later that the green dress I made for my cousin, was actually an October project, as I finished it over fall break, and I also made a tunic-dress from a pattern my little brother's girlfriend drafted in November. I unfortunately do not have a picture of that, but I'll make sure and take one soon. It's very comfortable, and I think I may make myself another one this spring. So, I actually didn't take a complete sewing break at all last year. I made at least one garment each month.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Finally a finished sweater
I finally finished this lace sweater I've been working on for so long. It's taken me forever to get it finished up, but I was determined to have it out of the way before the next semester starts back up. This is one project I can cross off the list at least.
It's a pattern from the 1930s that I found on Ravelry, although I can no longer find the link to the pdf. For those of you with Ravelry accounts it's called the 5 O'clock Surplice. I used a lace weight alpaca/silk blend yarn that I found at (one of our very few remaining) local yarn shops. It's incredibly soft yarn, as one might expect from silk and alpaca. I used one 875 yd skein (and a few extra feet) for this sweater, and I still have one skein left. I'm going to dig around and see if I can find another pattern to use the other skein for, since it feels so nice. It's alright to have two sweaters in the same yarn, right?? I just have to make sure that they look different enough that it's slightly less odd to have two sweaters in the same yarn. It's a teensy bit shorter than I was expecting, but think it will look really cute with my super-high waisted, 1930s lounge pants (especially my black ones).
While I have spent a great deal of time knitting in the last week, I managed to fit in a bit of baking (and lots of celebrating for my friend's wedding, my 24th birthday, and Christmas). I made a couple of batches of scones for my boyfriend's roommates: peppermint scones and chocolate-almond-butterscotch scones. They both turned out pretty well, but the latter was definitely the crowd favorite. The guys left me a nice note the next morning.
The wedding I went to was for a swing-dancing friend of mine, and as such there was lots of fun, vintage fashion that showed up to help them celebrate.
This lovely lady, in a stunning 1930s, burgundy velvet dress, is responsible for the beautiful suit the groom wore. She did an absolutely incredible job, making sure there was a perfectly tailored groom on the big day. The lining of the jacket and the back of the vest were really vibrant, bright coral, and the vest back was a giant polka-dot print. I would also like to commend her on her amazing welt pockets. She was very proud of them, as well she should be. They were perfect. She also altered the shorter 1940s dress that the bride changed into later, for ease of dancing of course.
Finally, for my birthday I gifted myself with a pair of remix shoes. I've been lusting after these for months and now they are mine.
It's a pattern from the 1930s that I found on Ravelry, although I can no longer find the link to the pdf. For those of you with Ravelry accounts it's called the 5 O'clock Surplice. I used a lace weight alpaca/silk blend yarn that I found at (one of our very few remaining) local yarn shops. It's incredibly soft yarn, as one might expect from silk and alpaca. I used one 875 yd skein (and a few extra feet) for this sweater, and I still have one skein left. I'm going to dig around and see if I can find another pattern to use the other skein for, since it feels so nice. It's alright to have two sweaters in the same yarn, right?? I just have to make sure that they look different enough that it's slightly less odd to have two sweaters in the same yarn. It's a teensy bit shorter than I was expecting, but think it will look really cute with my super-high waisted, 1930s lounge pants (especially my black ones).
While I have spent a great deal of time knitting in the last week, I managed to fit in a bit of baking (and lots of celebrating for my friend's wedding, my 24th birthday, and Christmas). I made a couple of batches of scones for my boyfriend's roommates: peppermint scones and chocolate-almond-butterscotch scones. They both turned out pretty well, but the latter was definitely the crowd favorite. The guys left me a nice note the next morning.
The wedding I went to was for a swing-dancing friend of mine, and as such there was lots of fun, vintage fashion that showed up to help them celebrate.
This lovely lady, in a stunning 1930s, burgundy velvet dress, is responsible for the beautiful suit the groom wore. She did an absolutely incredible job, making sure there was a perfectly tailored groom on the big day. The lining of the jacket and the back of the vest were really vibrant, bright coral, and the vest back was a giant polka-dot print. I would also like to commend her on her amazing welt pockets. She was very proud of them, as well she should be. They were perfect. She also altered the shorter 1940s dress that the bride changed into later, for ease of dancing of course.
 |
| Some of my favorite ladies. |
 |
| Her aunt (my mom's best friend) altered this 1930s wedding gown for her. |
They are a bit darker than this in real life, a bit more mahogany, but they're absolutely lovely and I really want another pair. I'll take a picture of mine sometime soon. I'll be wearing them frequently. We all went out for sushi on my birthday, stuffing our faces with deliciousness, and then all walked down to have a look at the restaurant that my guy and his brother are getting ready to open. He got an urge to go see a movie, so the two of us went to go see The Adventures of Tintin. I hadn't been to the movies in months and months, and this movie was a lot of fun. The animation was pretty impressive as well. Overall, 24 was a pretty fun birthday. Now it's back to work on the next few projects on the list....
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